After last week's election, the composition of the Montgomery County Commission will change dramatically next month, and that new commission may inherit some tough topics to deal with right off the bat.

Whether it be expanding animal control services onto Fort Campbell, approving an economic impact plan for an Exit 4 hotel and convention center, or reinstating $75,000 for the downtown Clarksville nonprofit Two Rivers Company, the existing commissioners indicated in informal session Monday night that they may "kick the can down the road," rather than cast deciding votes in formal session on Monday, Aug. 13.

On all three key topics, there were clear indications Monday night that the commissioners are divided.

Animal Control at Fort Campbell

Perhaps most troubling to the sitting commissioners is the idea of adding Fort Campbell to the Animal Care & Control Department's service area. And not all Montgomery County residents like the idea, either.

Commissioner Brandon Butts said many of his constituents in the Woodlawn area have asked him to vote against the agreement whereby Fort Campbell would essentially pay the county to provide animal control services that the U.S. Department of Defense previously conducted on post.

Butts asked Animal Control Director Dave Kaske if his department might be stretched too thin under such an arrangement.

"I have the utmost faith in my staff to take on any challenge they might face," Kaske replied, adding that Fort Campbell, under the agreement, would pay for one additional full-time staffer, and another part-timer to help with the escalating workload created.

Commissioner Robert Nichols said similar arrangements at Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Benning, Ga., are already "not going well," and he fears the same for Montgomery County and Fort Campbell.

One chief area of concern is whether dog and cat euthanasia rates can be held low under such a plan. Most commissioners Monday seemed to have their doubts.

Hotel and convention center

The economic impact plan that's intended to help bring Clarksville-Montgomery County a privately-funded hotel and convention center near Interstate 24 Exit 4 has already been approved unanimously by the local Industrial Development Board and Clarksville City Council.

Indications Monday night were that it's going to be a tougher sell to the Montgomery County Commission, to the extent that, like the Animal Control plan, it might be handed off to the next County Commission for further study when it takes office in September.

Mike Evans, executive director of the local Economic Development Council, made the formal pitch to commissioners Monday night, joined by Nashville attorney Tom Trent.

County Mayor Jim Durrett has said he supports the plan in which Stoney Creek Hospitality would build its estimated $30 million hotel and convention center on acreage next to a new city roadway, the Northeast Connector, ultimately connecting Wilma Rudolph Boulevard and Ted Crozier Sr. Boulevard with Trenton Road.

But many of the commissioners felt the request comes with too many unanswered questions, mainly with respect to timetables for completion of the road, and, the hotel and convention facility, itself.

TRC funding

As for the county reinstating the $75,000 it had removed from a budget line item for the downtown and riverfront revitalization group, TRC, that, too, remains a point of philosophical division at the courthouse.

Commissioner John Gannon made his best pitch on behalf of TRC Monday night, essentially saying the organization needs one more year of taxpayer-funded assistance from the county to "get through the door" of being financially self-sustaining.

Other commissioners, however, say there is a fundamental problem with the county providing TRC money when the city isn't. And, they question whether there has been adequate return on investments already made in TRC, including its programming efforts for Downtown Commons.

Next Monday night could potentially bring more fireworks on this topic as well.

Saying goodbye

In a lengthy ceremony early in the meeting, Durrett recognized retiring County Trustee Brenda Radford (soon to be succeeded by Kimberly Wiggins) with a proclamation, as well as the 12 exiting commissioners, which are Ed Baggett; Joe Weyant; Robert Gibbs; Ron Sokol; John Genis; Martha Brockman; Robert Nichols; Audrey Tooley; Tommy Vallejos; Wallace Redd; Jason Hodges and Monroe Gildersleeve.

Baggett, Sokol, Brockman, Tooley and Gildersleeve lost bids for re-election last week; Vallejos and Hodges are running against each other for the 67th District state House seat in November, and the remainder of those recognized didn't seek re-election. In all there are 21 commissioners.

Reach Business Editor Jimmy Settle at 931-245-0247 and on Twitter @settle_leaf.